Oh the mighty IPL and the saga of the dying aged cricketers to get a shot at the people who have blasted them around the park before. Never before has the world seen such a huge spectacle that showed India’s might and glory in sports such as this. The success of IPL has brought so much viewer ship, that people had totally forgotten about other sports viz; football.
The start of the Indian Premier League was by no means small. Mr. Vijay Mallya apart from being into Tennis, F1 and other ventures, spared no means to ensure that IPL’s opening ceremony would be the grandest that anyone has ever seen.
Needless to say, when in all places he had succeeded, he had failed miserably in cricket. Mr. Mallya, who is accustomed to winning and probably should have been more involved in the team selection, had not planned the outcome of how his team would turn out. Rahul Dravid, who was once known as “Mr Dependable” chose a team that boasted only of cricketing greats (read 30+ aged).
Cricketing greats yes… But were these people “IPL Material”? Members of the
team consisted more of the yesteryears cricketers than youngsters.
Members like Anil Kumble, Sunil Joshi, Jacques Kallis, Wasim
Jaffer and the captain himself, Rahul Dravid are more into the Test format
rather than the fast bustling pace of T20 cricket. Rahul Dravid once mentioned
himself that he would like to play in Test Cricket only. He’s one of the most
exceptionally classed batsmen of the Test area and his skills and experience in
Test cricket has to be applauded. But he was no match to the hard hitting
youngsters of IPL. Sad to say that Bangalore could score only 80 odd runs in their season opener. A very sad display for a
team that is boasted by the greats of Cricket.
Vijay Mallya should
not blame the cricketers or others for the dismal performance of the Royal
Challengers, Bangalore.
IPL / T20 cricket is not just raw power hitting and trying to score 200 – 250
runs in every match. It’s about guts and how you handle yourself in pressure
situations. Many matches have been won by teams who had kept their hopes up and
lost by teams who thought they were going to be through comfortably. “Rajasthan
Royals” who were the total underdogs at the starting of the season turned out
to be the most impressive team and were ably guided by their coach, mentor and
captain, Shane Warne.
Royal Challengers, Bangalore should not
worry about their losses. They should now focus on their respective national
games and come March 2009, we should be seeing a stronger, well qualified side that
have to guts and power to finish each game with a punch.
Just like Test
Cricket was evolving into One-Day, the cricketers faced a tough time in getting
scores of 150 – 200 up in 50 overs. Once this format became a part of their lives, the
scores kept rising till they reached 400 + in 50 overs. Just like One-Day’s had
changed Test cricket, T20’s are going to change the face of One-Day cricket. It
all boils down to how soon the cricketers can absorb this new format and
realize that this is going to stay.
I wish the Royal
Challengers, Bangalore
the very best of luck for the next season and as a fan, I will be there
supporting you’ll at every match.
Cheers,
;)